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Stone / Juli Goldenberg / Monkey Paw 24 Carrot Golden Ale
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.67 | pDev: 12.81%
- Reviews:
- 115
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 06, 2020
- Added:
- Aug 19, 2015
- Wants:
- 16
- Gots:
- 122
First Release: October 2015
2015 marked the seventh year of our American Homebrewers Association-sanctioned Stone Homebrew Competition. Juli Goldenberg, this year’s winner, added carrots, raisins, cinnamon and more to a Belgian-style golden strong ale to create a beer that is the liquid embodiment of carrot cake.
As the name implies, this beer is richly aromatic and envelopes the palate with decadent flavors of cream cheese frosting, cinnamon, vanilla, carrots and raisins plus subtle malt sweetness, ending with a medium-dry finish. It’s nothing short of brilliant and well deserving of the 24 karat (carrot?) golden opportunity to be brewed by Stone and distributed across the country.
2015 marked the seventh year of our American Homebrewers Association-sanctioned Stone Homebrew Competition. Juli Goldenberg, this year’s winner, added carrots, raisins, cinnamon and more to a Belgian-style golden strong ale to create a beer that is the liquid embodiment of carrot cake.
As the name implies, this beer is richly aromatic and envelopes the palate with decadent flavors of cream cheese frosting, cinnamon, vanilla, carrots and raisins plus subtle malt sweetness, ending with a medium-dry finish. It’s nothing short of brilliant and well deserving of the 24 karat (carrot?) golden opportunity to be brewed by Stone and distributed across the country.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by izzyismyrott:
Rated by izzyismyrott from Indiana
3.27/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Nov 13, 2016
3.27/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Nov 13, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
3.09/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
3.09/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
A bit mealy, with corn flake on the nose. Obviously I'm going to go searching for carrot. If it is in there, it has a boiled quality, and served with herbs. More like rainbow carrots, served with a light cream sauce, and a bit of sage and rosemarky.
Extremely soft and buttery palate. Whoah. This one's a trip. SOft and carrot cake in the beginning, especially in the forsting. Brown sugar too, and a cough medicine spice. That cough medicine builds up and up, right until the aftertaste kicks in, then it pops, delivering a nice and slow medicinal touch, which I think is a bit overwhelming. But that cough medicine tough is rough, like, really bad. Not sure I'll be able to finish.
Jan 04, 2020Extremely soft and buttery palate. Whoah. This one's a trip. SOft and carrot cake in the beginning, especially in the forsting. Brown sugar too, and a cough medicine spice. That cough medicine builds up and up, right until the aftertaste kicks in, then it pops, delivering a nice and slow medicinal touch, which I think is a bit overwhelming. But that cough medicine tough is rough, like, really bad. Not sure I'll be able to finish.
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York
3.98/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.98/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Hazy gold with white legs. 3.75
Spiced candle wax + thick cream. 3.75
Candy sweetness, sneaking spice, big creamy vanilla middle, earthy golden raisin, and loong finish of cinnamon, cream, then cloves. 4.25
Medium, round, crisp. 4
Lactose and vanilla make for a good cream cheese frosting effect. But cinnamon and Belgian cloves combine to hit too harsh. Carrot-y burps. Too many parts struggling with each other + some big Belgian character. Points for experimentation but too busy. 3.75
May 22, 2017Spiced candle wax + thick cream. 3.75
Candy sweetness, sneaking spice, big creamy vanilla middle, earthy golden raisin, and loong finish of cinnamon, cream, then cloves. 4.25
Medium, round, crisp. 4
Lactose and vanilla make for a good cream cheese frosting effect. But cinnamon and Belgian cloves combine to hit too harsh. Carrot-y burps. Too many parts struggling with each other + some big Belgian character. Points for experimentation but too busy. 3.75
Reviewed by Nugganooch from California
3.91/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle with my FW snifter glass
Notes from 10/21/15
Really enjoyed this one probably more so than others….but I love carrot cake so a little partial here.
A bright golden elixir with some yeasty haze that emits a soft glow when held to the light. Has a neat stack of lathery shampoo like suds.
Not distinctly carrot here but I definitely get the raisin fruit and some sweet vanilla spiced cake. Has a trailer of Belgian yeast traits and more fruity spices with some honey like sweetness.
The flavor is more vanilla spice cake with some caramelized carrot adding in a layer of distinct sweetness. Not at all vegetal which is nice. Lots of spices going on here ranging from cinnamon and clove to coriander with white pepper and a bit of that bubbleyum in the mix. Fruity with the raisin perking through. Very light and bouncy on the palate – playful with a super dry finish. Attenuated well with some modest alcohol noted.
For what they were going for I think it’s a real fine attempt. A little disjointed at times but with some aha moments where it does all come together.
Jan 13, 2017Notes from 10/21/15
Really enjoyed this one probably more so than others….but I love carrot cake so a little partial here.
A bright golden elixir with some yeasty haze that emits a soft glow when held to the light. Has a neat stack of lathery shampoo like suds.
Not distinctly carrot here but I definitely get the raisin fruit and some sweet vanilla spiced cake. Has a trailer of Belgian yeast traits and more fruity spices with some honey like sweetness.
The flavor is more vanilla spice cake with some caramelized carrot adding in a layer of distinct sweetness. Not at all vegetal which is nice. Lots of spices going on here ranging from cinnamon and clove to coriander with white pepper and a bit of that bubbleyum in the mix. Fruity with the raisin perking through. Very light and bouncy on the palate – playful with a super dry finish. Attenuated well with some modest alcohol noted.
For what they were going for I think it’s a real fine attempt. A little disjointed at times but with some aha moments where it does all come together.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bomber into a tulip. Aged a little over a year.
L: Medium golden pour with insanely foamy white head. Great lacing.
S: Yeast and toasted grains... vanilla and lemon peel. Fruity.
T/F: Very creamy... definitely a Belgian with yeasty goodness, toasted malts, and a bit of booze (ABV pretty well hidden). Complex, with spice and vanilla... not sure I'd have picked up on carrot cake if they hadn't told me but I think it shines through a bit. Fruit and icing. Well carbonated... zesty mouthfeel. Finish is off-sweet but pleasant.
O: Very tasty beer... in general love the Stone collaborations, and this one didn't disappoint. Had this at it's release and I think the year in the cellar smoothed it out nicely. Glad I have a few more yet to consume!
Jan 13, 2017L: Medium golden pour with insanely foamy white head. Great lacing.
S: Yeast and toasted grains... vanilla and lemon peel. Fruity.
T/F: Very creamy... definitely a Belgian with yeasty goodness, toasted malts, and a bit of booze (ABV pretty well hidden). Complex, with spice and vanilla... not sure I'd have picked up on carrot cake if they hadn't told me but I think it shines through a bit. Fruit and icing. Well carbonated... zesty mouthfeel. Finish is off-sweet but pleasant.
O: Very tasty beer... in general love the Stone collaborations, and this one didn't disappoint. Had this at it's release and I think the year in the cellar smoothed it out nicely. Glad I have a few more yet to consume!
Reviewed by Jaredkylemccann from California
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This was a tasty enjoyable specialty beer. The raisins cinnamon and vanilla definitely showed. It was somewhat carrot cake like. The funny thing is that this beer was retired and I just bought it yesterday.
They are weirdos at one of the liquor stores I go to. And they're only selling outdated beers. Like they still sell stone enjoy before October 31 and right now it is January. I think those should be discounted.
Jan 12, 2017They are weirdos at one of the liquor stores I go to. And they're only selling outdated beers. Like they still sell stone enjoy before October 31 and right now it is January. I think those should be discounted.
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
3.4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
**
12/25/16
Bottle to goblet. Golden yellow color. Small head, lacing. Aroma, is yeast, lactose. Taste is light spice (cinnamon, sugar,)....a lot like carrot cake, with some Belgian Wang. Very interesting, not something to buy over and over again.
**
Dec 23, 201612/25/16
Bottle to goblet. Golden yellow color. Small head, lacing. Aroma, is yeast, lactose. Taste is light spice (cinnamon, sugar,)....a lot like carrot cake, with some Belgian Wang. Very interesting, not something to buy over and over again.
**
Reviewed by HotDogBikeRide from Texas
4.75/5 rDev +29.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +29.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Cool to try such a rare one of a kind beer. Unfortunately didn't get my hands on this in Texas until a year and 3 months later. That being said, unlike many Stone beers this one did not disappoint with the aging. I read the story about Juli's initial beer and was intrigued. Always love trying these rarities.
Orange golden ale with a light head and medium light carbonation. Smells like Belgian yeast, some fruits, a little pale malt. Some definitive sweetness to the somewhat creamy waft.
The taste wasn't exactly carrots, but definitely a high quality, toned down creamy Belgian golden ale. A little bit of the cinnamon, some cloves. No bitter like some of these guys describe. An extremely warming ale, definitely good for this December season. Such a nice good feeling in my body consuming the obviously well done ale, made with love. Some of that vanilla obviously providing these magical touches.
I have no doubt the original recipe contained more carrot cake and cream cheese, among the other ingredients (cinnamon, nutmeg maybe?). All those are a bit turned down in the distributed form, but this ale has not lost its unique, award-winning characteristic. I would buy this form ALL THE TIME if it was a regular release, especially in a six pack. Talk about warming the bones.
Some nice apricot and light pear accenting the warm sweetness, medium bodied and perfectly so. Let it warm just a little out of the fridge to get the best character.
Thanks Stone for always collaborating, spreading amazing ideas, and providing beer that blows minds. A little costly but that's the curse of living down here. Thanks Juli for the awesome original recipe.
Dec 15, 2016Orange golden ale with a light head and medium light carbonation. Smells like Belgian yeast, some fruits, a little pale malt. Some definitive sweetness to the somewhat creamy waft.
The taste wasn't exactly carrots, but definitely a high quality, toned down creamy Belgian golden ale. A little bit of the cinnamon, some cloves. No bitter like some of these guys describe. An extremely warming ale, definitely good for this December season. Such a nice good feeling in my body consuming the obviously well done ale, made with love. Some of that vanilla obviously providing these magical touches.
I have no doubt the original recipe contained more carrot cake and cream cheese, among the other ingredients (cinnamon, nutmeg maybe?). All those are a bit turned down in the distributed form, but this ale has not lost its unique, award-winning characteristic. I would buy this form ALL THE TIME if it was a regular release, especially in a six pack. Talk about warming the bones.
Some nice apricot and light pear accenting the warm sweetness, medium bodied and perfectly so. Let it warm just a little out of the fridge to get the best character.
Thanks Stone for always collaborating, spreading amazing ideas, and providing beer that blows minds. A little costly but that's the curse of living down here. Thanks Juli for the awesome original recipe.
Reviewed by princessbay710 from Texas
4.51/5 rDev +22.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.51/5 rDev +22.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Mind this bottle is a year and 3 months old. I don't think that time has done this one justice. Pours cloudy yellow, thin head, loose, melty lacing. I'm catching a hint of spice, but besides that it seems a bit watered down, which makes me sad because I can tell that it was fantastic in it's hey-day. Alcohol is hidden well. The video clip on Stone's website over this limited release is worth a look. The further into the beer the better I feel, the better it tastes (more spice), and the wobblier my head feels. It still has great body.
Dec 15, 2016
Stone / Juli Goldenberg / Monkey Paw 24 Carrot Golden Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
461 ratings
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